Bee Pollen

We have multiple threads on honey and the health benefits. While at the farmer's market this weekend I stopped at a local honey booth and the lady was selling jars of bee pollen. Like honey, bee pollen is loaded with vitamins and all the good stuff. It is used for general health or issues. I bought a jar, $11 for not quite a half pint. The seller said to start slow then increase the consumption. I eat it in my yogurt, it is kind of chewy and tastes fine.

What is Bee Pollen?
Bee pollen (here) is food for a young bee. Called bee bread, bee pollen is a tiny granule of pollen formed by bees to feed the hive. Bee pollen also consists of nectar and bee saliva. One of the most fascinating facts about bee pollen is that it can never be reproduced in a laboratory. When researchers try to feed bees man-made pollen, the bees die. As much as science has progressed, it still cannot identify some key elements contained in bee pollen. The exact composition of bee pollen has to do with the location and the various plants from which bee pollen is collected. But the overall composition has massive amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and nutrients. Bee pollen consist of 40% protein… which is very well absorbed by the human body. No wonder it’s considered one of the most complete natural foods. Bee pollen is the most abundant known source of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, natural antibiotics, hormones, enzymes and fats.

According to researchers at the Institute of Apiculture, Taranov, Russia, “Honeybee pollen is the richest source of vitamins found in nature in a single food. Even if bee pollen had none of its other vital ingredients, its content of rutin alone would justify taking at least a teaspoon daily, if for no other reason than strengthening the capillaries. Pollen is extremely rich in rutin and may have the highest content of any source, plus it provides a high content of the nucleics RNA [ribonucleic acid] and DNA [deoxyribonucleic acid].”

Boosts Energy. Bee pollen (here) consists of 55 % carbohydrates and almost 40 % protein, making it a great source of energy. Due to its massive amount of protein, bee pollen can be used as a natural supplement for bodybuilders.

Improves skin. According to Dr. Lars-Erik Essen, a Swedish dermatologist who first started using bee products for skin issues, “[Bee pollen] seems to prevent premature aging of the cells and stimulates growth of new skin tissue,” says Dr. Essen. “It offers effective protection against dehydration and injects new life into dry cells. It smooths away wrinkles and stimulates a life-giving blood supply to all skin cells. The skin becomes younger looking, less vulnerable to wrinkles, smoother, and healthier with the use of honeybee pollen.”

Immune system booster. Due to proteins, mono and polyunsaturated fats, vitamins B, C, D, E, and beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, selenium, nucleic acids, lecithin, and cysteine in been pollen, it is very effective in strengthening the immune system.

Aids the cardiovascular system. Bee Pollen possesses great amounts of Rutin; an antioxidant that helps strengthen blood vessels and capillaries. It exhibits anti-clotting properties which can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

I hope harvesting is easier than trying to catch bees and stripping the pollen from their little corbiculas

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A device called a pollen trap is added to the hive to collect the pollen. There are several versions but they all require the bees to venture thru the trap when entering or exiting the hive. There are some screens the bees walk across and the pollen is dislodged from their legs (they carry it on their legs) and falls into a collection tray in the bottom of the trap.

The way things are going for the Bee's, you'd better get it while you can! Zika spraying is not only poisoning people, but it's already killed millions of Bee's and their not even in full swing yet!

A Man without a plan, is a Man Without A Plan!! Hurricanes, Tornado's, Floods, Power outages, Civil Unrest...... Pick your poison, how many times do you hear the words "We were totally Unprepared for this, we never expected....." Nuff Said.

I enjoy the Farmers Market where you can see in the back of the venders truck, boxes of vegetables and fruits from the wholesaler. Not exactly grown on a local farm...

Rancher

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It was local. A lady, a table and a bunch of boxes. She had literature on her bee farm or whatever you call them. Everything came in mason jars. That is how she makes here living, selling local honey but not to the chains. She just does fairs and markets.

Honey is an antibiotic in it's self and very affective in fighting colds and flu but it is a bandaid where as pollen is the curative for allergy.
Trick is the pollen needs to come from the area you live as , the flowers in your area may not be the same as where the pollen came from .
Most folk can live in an area a few years till their immune system can no longer deal with the pollen in that area , moving to a new area can help, but it's no guarantee .
Breast feeding mothers transfer their immunities to their young , but if this is substituted for cow milk or other substitutes the outcome is sketchy , the child usually suffers.
Mother's milk works much the same as bee pollen for their young.

Thers supposed to be a local beekeeper here.. I need to see if I can find out more info, I like using real honey (dont trust most of the grocery store brands, always buy local(ie scotland) small beekeepers honey)
Might have to ask about the pollen, I used to add it to smoothies, yogurt etc.

Thers supposed to be a local beekeeper here.. I need to see if I can find out more info, I like using real honey (dont trust most of the grocery store brands, always buy local(ie scotland) small beekeepers honey)
Might have to ask about the pollen, I used to add it to smoothies, yogurt etc.

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Start with the county Ag agents, if they don't know, well, they should.

@Airtime do you collect the pollen and use/eat it? I noticed you can buy it on-line also but I liked buying local because it will help with allergies.

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HONEY is what help with allergies, the Bee pollen & wax is used but not in the same way & will effect different folk.

I see this with our bee masters here & some are weird colours . I buy mine since we don't eat or use it on OUR bodys . Its used for the critters , shoe / leather waterproofing etc. The Honey is from our ranch area & my wife is almost normal noise after 10 years .B4 she was a city clown during pollen season (A JAR / month 4 her in sweet tea) ) . Me , Im from the underworld & satin makes sure squat fizzes us.